I thought I had it all figured out. School on Monday and Wednesday nights and then the rest of the week study and do all of that stuff right? I've been thinking about it more lately since I start grad school in less than a week. I've been thinking about how things will change with both me and Matt in school full time and how I'm going to manage full time work and school for a while now. I thought that I was good with everything, until I got an email from my teacher.
I have a homework assignment and I don't even start school until Wednesday! It isn't a huge assignment, only maybe 15 or 20 pages of reading. The part that scares me is that the first class is considered a "working" class. I know what "working" means....it means participation.
I'm not a joiner.
I went to the University of Maine for my undergrad degree. My smallest class probably had around 25 to 30 people. Some of my intro classes had a couple of hundred people in it. A class where you have to show ID to pass in your test lends it self to anonymity. That I can do.
Not only am I going into a class that requires participation, but it is a class with 11 people in it. With only 11 people you can't sit in the back row and expect people to leave you alone. You are forced to participate. Plus, this class is Rhetorical Rhetoric. My reading homework is Aristotle. Not the easiest read.
Can I really handle full time Grad School and full time work? Not only am I working, but I'm working an hour away. Add in the fact that I worked full time and went to school full time for my undergrad degree and I had a less than stellar performance there. With that said, I am going to need to have nearly perfect grades to even get accepted into the program...right now I'm only accepted as a non-degree student.
I am certainly not the most low key person on the planet...am I just over reacting??
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Hey! Thanks for the comments :) I am also not the most low-key person :P However, I *am* a joiner (and a talker). My recommendation for class participation: offer insightful commentary that shows that you thoughtfully read the material i.e. "I was really moved by Aristotle's theory on basic constituents of manner." Otherwise, just build off of what your classmates say :) Annnd...I'm rambling!
Is there anything you can do to cut back so that you don't have to work full time? Definitely think of ways to make your commute productive. Certainly halt homo-reno unless it's fodder for writing. (Can you tell I'm stressing out for you.)
As for comments in class. It's like the book club you always wanted. Keep reading and preparing for class, it will make grad school more fun. Pay attention to the instructor during comments. Several of my profs would grab onto a good comment and try to get the class to comment along those lines. In my experience class discussion makes you a better, more thorough reader.
By the way, you commented on my blog a while back, marthajane.wordpress.com. Guess it's my turn to be encouraging--hang in there and you'll get the hang of it.
PS: Define yourself as what you want to be, as what you believe is in your future.
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